Commonwealth Games: India's Ajaya Babu wins silver, betters father's bronze

By: K. Keerthivasan

Ajaya Babu grew up accompanying his father, Valluri Srinivasa Rao, to weightlifting competitions, learning the finer aspects of the sport from him. Inspired by Rao — who won a bronze medal in the men’s 56kg category at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi — Ajaya arrived in Glasgow for his debut Games determined to make his dad proud.

He did exactly that, although he was left disappointed after missing the gold by a whisker in the men’s 79kg event at the Scottish Event Campus on Monday night.

The 21-year-old from Kondavelagada village in Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram district finished with the silver medal. He managed a total lift of 330kg, just 1kg behind Malaysia’s Muhammad Erry Hidayat, who set Games records in the clean and jerk (184kg) and total (331kg).

Ajaya also produced a Games record of 149kg in the snatch, while Hidayat managed 147kg. Ajaya lifted 181kg in the clean and jerk.

“I should have done better. I dedicate the medal to the Indian Weightlifting Federation, coaches, support staff and my father. I followed the sport after seeing my father, who has been my inspiration. I wanted to win gold but couldn’t. I will try to win it next time,” Ajaya said.

Key Facts:

• Event: Men’s 79kg weightlifting, Commonwealth Games
• Result: Silver medal (total lift: 330kg)
• Games Records: Ajaya — 149kg (snatch); Hidayat — 184kg (clean and jerk), 331kg (total)
• Margin: 1kg behind gold medalist Muhammad Erry Hidayat (Malaysia)
• Background: Son of 2010 Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Valluri Srinivasa Rao